Synchronization-Dependence of Path Switching in an Autonomous Flow Network

We present a fundamental model that treats the problem of synchronicity of path switches in a packet flow network. The model assumes a network with multiple concurrent multihop flows. Each flow source monitors its flow path for a certain period of time, and then randomly selects a new flow path if the current path is congested. We examine the effect of having synchronized switch cycles in a basic two-hop network topology. It is shown that there can be a large difference in flow characteristics for flows with synchronized in-phase and antiphase switching cycles. The effect is shown as a large difference in the packet delay time distributions around a critical value of load parameter.